South Carolina’s 28–14 rivalry defeat to Clemson immediately shifted the conversation toward what comes next for the program — and specifically, what the future holds for quarterback LaNorris Sellers. As one of the most gifted athletes on the roster and the centerpiece of the Gamecocks’ offense, Sellers entered the year with high expectations. But the season didn’t unfold quite the way he or the program envisioned.
With the team finishing 4–8 and missing out on a bowl game, speculation naturally began: Will LaNorris Sellers stick around for the 2026 season, or explore a transfer to restart his momentum somewhere else?
Shane Beamer didn’t offer much clarity when asked about his quarterback’s future.
“Yeah, I mean you’ve got to ask LaNorris that,” Beamer said. “I’m focused on today’s game. I’m not going to dissect and give you an analysis of what the ’26 roster is going to look like.”
Statistically, Sellers put together a solid but inconsistent campaign. He threw for 2,056 yards with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions, while adding 268 rushing yards and five touchdowns. His dual-threat talent remained obvious, but the breakthrough many predicted never fully materialized.
When asked about his plans for next season, Sellers kept things wide open.
“I mean, when the decision comes to make a decision, when time comes to make a decision, I’ll make the decision that works best for me,” he said.
If Sellers does stay, there’s no denying the potential South Carolina would return with him at the helm — especially with a program-wide reset coming. The Gamecocks fired offensive coordinator Mike Shula late in the year, meaning a new play-caller will take over the offense. Whether Sellers feels aligned with that new direction could be a major factor in his choice.
Beamer, meanwhile, believes the team’s struggles — and how close they were in many games — may fuel players like Sellers to want to return and finish what they started.
“I do know this, there’s a lot of guys in that locker room that are hurt and don’t want to feel this feeling again,” Beamer said. “And also understand how freaking close we are to being where we want to be. We’re sitting here at this time last year feeling a whole lot different after this game in the middle of a six-game winning streak and thinking we were going to the College Football Playoff.
“We’re not there right now, but there’s a very motivated group of guys in that locker room that are excited about what’s next, I do know that. Again, that’s a question for LaNorris.”
For now, the Gamecocks — and their fanbase — will wait to see what decision their quarterback ultimately makes.
